Patent US3971072A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3971072A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Lightweight armor and method of fabrication
Assignee: Safariland LLC
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Filing: 1972-04-18
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Granted: 1976-07-27
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Expires: 1992-04-18
Abstract
Abstract Reinforced body armor and the like is fabricated by securing a thin ballistic metal outer shell to a plurality of layers of flexible material having qualities resistant to ballistic penetration. The layers of material are sewn together along paths spaced within a selected predetermined range, so as to restrict movement of the fabric layers in lateral and longitudinal directions and to compact the layers in an elastic mass thereby to provide improved resistance to penetration of the material by a ballistic missile and to partially stiffen the material so that shock waves and the force of impact of the missile are distributed over a relatively large area adjacent the point of impact of the missile to reduce back target distortion.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. Armellino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:11
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41H; F41H1/00; F41H1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A protective material comprising: 1. a plurality of layers of flexible ballistic material, 2. said layers of material being formed of woven continuous filament synthetic yarns, 3. securing means extending along spaced continuous paths interconnecting said layers, 4. said securing means comprising a plurality of continuous uninterrupted stitches at least through a substantial portion of each path with each stitch interconnecting said layers together, 5. said paths being spaced a distance no greater than three-fourths of an inch and no less than one-eighth of an inch, and 6. a sheet of relatively hard non-woven anti-ballistic material secured to one side of the secured layers of ballistic material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A protective material comprising: 1. a plurality of layers of flexible ballistic material, 2. said layers of material being formed of woven continuous filament synthetic yarns, 3. securing means extending along spaced continuous paths interconnecting said layers, 4. said securing means comprising a plurality of continuous uninterrupted stitches at least through a substantial portion of each path with each stitch interconnecting said layers together, 5. said paths being spaced a distance no greater than three-fourths of an inch and no less than one-eighth of an inch, and 6. a sheet of relatively hard non-woven anti-ballistic material secured to one side of the secured layers of ballistic material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The material of claim 1 wherein: 7. said plurality of layers include an outer layer, 8. said outer layer being tensioned and flexed by said securing means to provide an angled surface to a missile impacting normally to said material so as to tend to deflect said missile from said material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The material as defined in claim 2 wherein: 7. the stitches are four to 15 stitches to an inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The material as defined in claim 1 wherein: 7. said paths are disposed along substantially parallel lines;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
said material being free of securing means extending in a path intersecting said parallel paths.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
said material being free of securing means extending in a path intersecting said parallel paths.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The material of claim 1 wherein: 7. said plurality of layers of ballistic materials is in the form of a vest having dimensions to cover portions of the wearer's body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The material as defined in claim 1 wherein the flexible ballistic material is formed of woven nylon fibers and the uninterrupted stitches joining the layers together are formed of nylon thread.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The material as defined in claim 1 wherein said stitch paths are spaced three eighths of an inch apart.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The material as defined in claim 1 wherein the stitches are four to eight to the inch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The material as defined in claim 1 wherein said relatively hard non-woven anti-ballistic material comprises a thin layer of steel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The material as defined in claim 9 wherein said thin layer of steel is secured to said material by a layer of epoxy adhesive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
112 words
A protective material comprising 1. a plurality of layers of flexible ballistic material, 2. said layers of material being formed of woven, continuous filament synthetic yarns, 3. securing means extending along spaced continuous paths interconnecting said layers, 4. said securing means comprising a plurality of continuous uninterrupted stitches at least through a substantial portion of each path with each stitch interconnecting said layers together, 5. said paths being spaced a distance no greater than three-fourths of an inch and no less than one-eighth of an inch, and 6. a sheet of relatively hard anti-ballistic material comprising a thin layer of steel secured to one side of the secured layers of ballistic material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
112 words
A protective material comprising 1. a plurality of layers of flexible ballistic material, 2. said layers of material being formed of woven, continuous filament synthetic yarns, 3. securing means extending along spaced continuous paths interconnecting said layers, 4. said securing means comprising a plurality of continuous uninterrupted stitches at least through a substantial portion of each path with each stitch interconnecting said layers together, 5. said paths being spaced a distance no greater than three-fourths of an inch and no less than one-eighth of an inch, and 6. a sheet of relatively hard anti-ballistic material comprising a thin layer of steel secured to one side of the secured layers of ballistic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The material as defined in claim 11 wherein: 8. said thin layer of steel is secured to said flexible ballistic material by a layer of epoxy adhesive.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The material as defined in claim 11 wherein said paths of stitches are relatively parallel to each other.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-27 | 1980-01-26 | 1980-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-27 | 1984-01-26 | 1984-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-27 | 1988-01-26 | 1988-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |